The Rev. Robert Niehoff, president of John Carroll University, has announced his retirement. (Robert Hartshorn/Hartshorn Studios)

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Rev. Robert Niehoff, president of John Carroll University since 2005, announced Wednesday that he plans to retire.

Niehoff said in the letter to the university community that the search for his successor will begin immediately.

"I have been thinking for some time about the ideal time to position the University for new leadership," he wrote. "This year has been exceptional and full of hard rewarding work. With the Higher Learning Commission's recent reaffirmation of our accreditation status; the successful conclusion of the Forever Carroll comprehensive campaign; the launch of our new strategic plan; growing recognition and prestige for our accountancy and science programs; and achieving national media coverage for beating Mt. Union in football for the first time in 27 years, it became clear to me that the time for me to retire is now."

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